In December 2019 I went on a 3 week uni exchange trip to Chongqing, China. We were put into groups with Sydney Uni and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (SFAI) students to complete an assignment. The students from the other universities were studying environmental design and interaction design.
Brief: To redesign a site chosen by the Chinese Government and SFAI professors using the skills of all students within the group.
Process: Our group would meet up throughout the week at SFAI or over dumplings and hotpot, luckily the two Sydney Uni students spoke Chinese and English so we were able to have in-depth conversations about our ideas and responses to the brief as a whole group. We collaborated on the concept and design outcomes through navigating sections of the site, highlighting our different skill sets. As I was a graphic and spatial design student I was able to work with the SFAI students in designing the structures and layout of the space as well as rendering and drafting, and also working with the other UNSW Art and Design student and the USYD students to provide graphic designs.
Outcomes: Transformed an abandoned railway site into a cultural destination for tourists, locals and uni students. The space provided a flexible work offices and areas, collaborative/exhibition spaces, local and traditional Chinese food served in old train carriages that moved along the tracks and various light and film installations.
